Nagpur, Dec 19 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated on Thursday that the state is at the forefront compared to others in drawing in both domestic and foreign direct investments, declaring that the government will uphold a zero tolerance approach towards any extortion attempts made by individuals connected to various political parties against investors.

He rejected claims from the opposition regarding Gujarat surpassing Maharashtra, asserting that the state has historically been the preferred destination for investments in the past, currently, and will continue to be in the future.

In response to discussions on the Governor’s address in the state Assembly, Fadnavis remarked, 'Maharashtra has led in attracting foreign direct investment from 2015 to 2019. Nevertheless, during the rule of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, both Gujarat and Karnataka outperformed Maharashtra. However, since the MahaYuti government assumed power, Maharashtra has reclaimed its leading position.'

“Maharashtra is witnessing substantial investments. I trust that political entities will not side with extortionists. If investors are subjected to harassment and extortion demands, they will refrain from investing in our state. By not shielding extortionists, Maharashtra can progress more rapidly. The government will strictly implement a zero tolerance policy against extortionists,” he cautioned.

Fadnavis highlighted that the state government is proactively advancing the use of renewable energy to achieve a net zero carbon footprint. 'Maharashtra’s current power generation capacity stands at 44,000 MW, with power purchase agreements signed for an additional 54,000 MW. Presently, 84% of power is generated via traditional energy means, while only 16% comes from renewable sources. The government aims to boost the share of renewable energy in power production to 52%, thereby reducing traditional energy's contribution to 48%,'' he explained.

Furthermore, Fadnavis mentioned that the government is committed to accelerating infrastructure development, announcing that the second phase of the Mumbai Metro 3 project connecting Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ is set to conclude by May 2025.

'The inaugural phase of Mumbai Metro 3, spanning from Aarey to BKC, became operational on October 7. The second phase, extending from Colaba to BKC, is scheduled to open by May 2025,' he declared.